London is a magical destination during the Christmas season, a city which has donned its glittering party attire and has been transformed into a winter wonderland, a place where visitors and locals are inundated with countless seasonal events, ensuring a fun filled stay from early morning to late at night! An event which should not be missed is the Christmas Tree installation at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington. The initiative was launched in 2003 when Alexander McQueen and Tord Boontje were invited to design a tree for the Grand Entrance of the museum.
Their ‘Silent Night’ tree was a magnificent, glittering creation inspired by the crystallization of snow to ice, formed from 100.000 Swarovski crystal on polished, stainless steel branches. It was displayed to a backdrop of a shattered mirror and filled the space with sparkling lights, an image of formidable energy created through its fragile strength. Since then, the Christmas Tree installation has become an annual event and has hosted trees designed by a diverse range of personalities from the world of art and design. Boudicca, one of the first British fashion houses to be officially admitted into the elite world of Paris Haute Couture, presented a haunting vision inspired by ‘The Little Match-girl’, a single waif like figure trapped within garlands of wild roses and thorns atop the tree of this immersive installation, accompanied by the sounds and scents of an ancient forest. In 2006, Jasper Conran used 1000 crystal drops donated by Waterford Crystals and set them alongside emerald and aquamarine lights. Other designs ranged from the ultra contemporary to the traditional, glamorous and positively decadent!
This year’s tree has been designed by Helen and Colin David of the textile label, English Eccentrics. ‘The Red Velvet Tree of Love’ sends out a message of joy and togetherness and was inspired by a 19th century chair at the museum, a gothic piece of red velvet on an antler frame. A traditional tree like shape with bright red velvety boughs, it is decorated with 79 sets of hand crafted replica antlers and 67 3D printed heart shaped baubles, featuring the form of a deer from an 18th century print, snowflakes or the artists signature. A wonderful combination of the traditional and the modern with references taken from the exhibits of the museum plus the symbolic V&A which apply both to the museum and the velvet and antler of the tree. The Christmas Tree installation will remain in place through to 6th January, 2014.
